On Jan. 1, Hwang Ki-yeon, president of the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank), delivered a New Year’s message.
“This year marks a significant year for Korea Eximbank as it marks its 50th anniversary,” Hwang said. “Building on the achievements of the past 50 years, we stand at a new starting point, preparing for the next 50 years.”
“When I took office as president in November of 2025, I presented our new strategic direction — securing future growth engines, overcoming the trade crisis through productive finance, cooperation with the Global South, and practical execution capabilities,” Hwang added.
“This year, Korea Eximbank will focus its capabilities on the following four core tasks, with a concrete blueprint for the implementation of the four tasks and the next half-century for Korea Eximbank.”
First of all, Korea Eximbank will step up its efforts for the Korean economy’s dynamic takeoff by providing comprehensive financial support to sharpen export competitiveness.
“As the ‘frontline export partner’ of Korean companies, Eximbank will establish a comprehensive support system encompassing Korea’s entire export industry value chain and dedicate itself to expanding policy financing to achieve a loan balance of over 165 trillion won by 2028,” Hwang continued.
To this end, Eximbank will provide full support to strategic order-winning industries.
“We will also expand strategic cooperation with domestic and international financial institutions,” Hwang emphasized.
Furthermore, Korea Eximbank will actively respond to a demand for investment financing in the US for key export industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and automobiles, thereby supporting companies in seizing opportunities to break into new business areas.
An amendment to the law in late last year enabled Korea Eximbank’s contribution to the Supply Chain Stabilization Fund.
Based on this expanded financial capacity, starting this year, the Korean government will more actively support companies in securing core technologies and raw materials, and internalizing production infrastructure.
This will contribute to strengthening Korean companies’ supply chain crisis response capabilities and ensuring economic security.
Second, Korea Eximbank will expand productive financial support to drive the expansion of Korea’s economic growth potential.
Over the next three years, Korea Eximbank will provide a total of over 110 trillion won to SMEs with technological prowess and growth potential, focusing on supporting their growth and takeoff.
Korea Eximbank will introduce a comprehensive support package for SMEs located outside the Seoul metropolitan area, implementing policy financing that will alleviate the concentration of SMEs in the Seoul metropolitan area and promote balanced national development.
“Rather than focusing on short-term performance, we will focus on providing sufficient funds in a timely manner to industries and companies that will lay the foundation of Korea’s future economic growth,” Hwang said.
Third, to celebrate its 100th anniversary 50 years from now, Korea Eximbank will solidify the foundation for sustainable management and practice responsible public finance.
“By systematically implementing Korea Eximbank ESG Management Roadmap newly revised last December, Korea Eximbank will transform into a foreign policy finance institution that responds to the climate crisis and leads the way toward an inclusive society,” Hwang continued.
To this end, Korea Eximbank will expand support for eco-friendly export financing for carbon neutrality and energy transition, and actively implement inclusive finance that creates social value such as win-win cooperation, shared growth and sustainable job creation.
Moreover, Korea Eximbank will further strengthen the transparency and accountability of the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) under its management.
Korea Eximbank will prioritize supporting science, technology, and innovation-based development cooperation projects such as digital and energy transformation that can substantially contribute to Korea’s national interest.
Fourth, Korea Eximbank will accelerate its transition to AI to fundamentally strengthen the execution capacity of its policy financing.
“Digital transformation using AI is no longer an option, but a necessity,” Hwang said.
“To establish and implement its AI system, Korea Eximbank will establish an AI platform development task force and thoroughly prepare essential infrastructure including establishing AI governance and enhancing security systems.”
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